"He never spoke in the classroom. Never. He wouldn't talk to anybody. He would just nod his head ... and only get excited when the footy came out."

Clearly, not much has changed in the world of Darius Boyd, Newcastle's $1.6 million recruit who returns to face his former club the Broncos on Sunday under mounting pressure to break his tryscoring drought and deliver on his big-money investment.

If there is a living, breathing metaphor for the Knights' current woes under master coach Wayne Bennett, look no further than Boyd.

Few players in the code are feeling the heat like Boyd. In less than a year he has gone from St George Illawarra's tackle-busting talisman to Newcastle's confidence-stricken custodian who has seemingly lost the attacking mojo that piloted the Dragons to the 2010 premiership.

The inquisition began with last month's meltdown, when Boyd was captured breaking down in the dressingroom after a 24-6 loss to the Roosters, prompting Bennett, his veritable father figure, to console his misfiring fullback.

Shy by nature, Boyd has now firmly put the shutters up. After his two-try effort in Origin, he shunned media approaches. Bennett himself won't talk about Boyd. So we are left to consult those who know and understand Boyd's constitution to provide an insight into the NRL's ultimate mystery man.

When the 24-year-old delivered his infamous 42-second press conference at the Dragons in 2009, an interview laced with boorish, monosyllabic replies, Boyd was pilloried for his perceived arrogance and unintelligence.

But Patison says Boyd opens up to a select few. Those outside his circle of trust do not see what Bennett sees.

"People don't realise just how quiet Darius is. He's not arrogant. If someone thought that it would be a gross misinterpretation," says Patison, who has coached several PBC NRL alumni in Boyd, former Maroons utility Ben Ikin and Broncos Test prop Ben Hannant.

"I see Darius as a sensitive, reflective sort of guy. He has always been quiet, he won't waste words.

"He's just a doer, not a talker. He was never the kid who talked the talk, he was just a doer and he likes doing the job."

So what, then, is his problem now? Patison is adamant Boyd's slump at the Knights is over-stated, saying his personal form is a by-product of Newcastle's collective performances.

"He's having a rocky patch but when a team is struggling it's only natural the fullback will suffer," Patison said.

The reason Bennett refuses to panic about Boyd is because he has seen his fullback previously endure and conquer.

During their time together at the Dragons in 2009, Bennett detected an unease in Boyd. He pulled him aside at training and asked if he needed to talk. Boyd broke down and opened a vein, telling Bennett he was struggling to adjust to life in Sydney.

"Straight away I became upset," Boyd said last year as he reflected on his relationship with Bennett.

"He just knew I wasn't my usual self. He just knew I wasn't on. To be able to pick that. I definitely needed to talk. I am not one to talk about things. I'm pretty quiet.

"To be able to talk to someone I thought was pretty awesome."

Within 12 months, Boyd had the Clive Churchill Medal dangling around his neck, having destroyed the Roosters in the Dragons' premiership victory.

To understand the Bennett-Boyd bond, you need to spool back to a childhood devoid of a father figure.

Boyd has never known his dad.

He was raised by his mother until he was 15, when he moved to the Gold Coast to live with his grandmother Delphine.

"Mum was great for me in those years, she did a really good job," Boyd recalled. "I don't want to talk about it too much, she just ... she became mentally unwell."

Of Delphine, Boyd says: "She's been there the last eight or so years, she's been my No.1 support. It's hard for her, she's by herself.

"She is my only family member ... I couldn't expect other people to look after me."

Maroons prop Ben Hannant, who grew up on the Gold Coast with Boyd, says it will be only a matter of time before his former Broncos teammate hits back.

"It does take time to get used to the structure and training when you go to a new club," Hannant said.

"With Darius it is getting used to Newcastle's playing style.

"His role is a very important one in the team, not only does he have to bring the ball back but he has to sweep off his halves and chime in with his forwards. He has to be able to tell the forwards where he has to go in defence, at fullback there is a lot of work to do.

"I used to do little athletics with Darius so I know what he's like. He was always a good athlete but more importantly he competed so hard.

"He will get back to his best with the Knights ... I just hope it doesn't happen this week."

Maroons and Australian selector Des Morris believes Boyd's two-try display in Origin I is an ominous sign of a Newcastle renaissance.

"The Origin game will be a positive for Darius," he said.

"Everyone can bag him at club level but he can't do any more than he did in Origin. Sometimes you just need an opportunity to help your confidence.

"Darius is a class act and he'll come through in the long run. Life isn't always rosy ... no matter what you are doing."

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